Man Receives 2-5 Years For Stabbing P'burg Teen

A 43-year-old man who stabbed and slashed a 17-year-old Phillipsburg youth in August 1985 was sentenced to Northampton County Prison yesterday by President Judge Alfred T. Williams Jr.

Carmer Robert Dingman, who had no permanent address when he was arrested by Easton police after the Aug. 15 incident, was ordered to serve two years less one day up to five years less two days in prison. He pleaded guilty to attempted robbery in a plea bargain arrangement. He had also been charged with aggravated assault and recklessly endangering another person in connection with the attack on Jeff Corby of Bennett Street in Phillipsburg.

Dingman said the incident, which took place under the free bridge between Easton and Phillipsburg, "would never have happened if I wasn't drinking." He acknowledged that he has a drinking problem, but said he had stopped drinking and will never carry a knife again.

Williams said that although injuries to Corby had been characterized as minimal, the presentence investigation prepared by the county Adult Probation Department showed that Corby needed 115 stitches to close his wounds, and the wound endangered his eye. He noted that no claims had been made for restitution by the victim.

The judge ordered Dingman to pay court costs and any restitution claimed. He also said he may spend the last month of his sentence in a residential inpatient drug treatment program.